Medical professionals prescribe a vancomycin IV for treatment in cases of bacterial infection. Dosing varies based on the condition and the individual it will be used to treat. Most prescriptions will specify that the drug is to be used well after the symptoms of the condition disappear to ensure that the bacteria are completely out of the person's system before stopping the drug.

A vancomycin IV can be used to treat a number of bacterial infections of the blood, skin, bone, tissues, and organs. Effective against staphylococcus bacteria, it is often prescribed for infections that have spread throughout the entire body. Infections can be as widespread as through the whole body or in areas as specific as patches of the skin, heart valves, or joints.

It is also safe to be administered to infants and newborns suffering from the same bacterial infections. Pneumonia in newborns can be effectively treated with a vancomycin IV, as can most bacterial infections of the blood, body, and tissues. Medical professionals will typically only administer the drug to pregnant women when absolutely necessary. As it can be passed to an uninfected newborn through breast milk, caution needs to be taken when a woman who is breast-feeding is given a vancomycin IV.

Individuals who are diabetic can also be prescribed a vancomycin IV to fight off infections in various parts of the body, commonly the feet. Infection can also occur after major or minor surgery, and a vancomycin IV can be given to individuals still recovering from surgery. It can also be used to fight cases of bacterial meningitis, streptococcus, and pneumonia.

The drug acts over time to kill the bacteria causing the infection in the body. An exception is Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. In this case, the bacteria have infected the intestines. For this disease, the same medication given via an injection and IV drip for other conditions is taken by mouth as a liquid to ensure that it passes through the system and gets into the infected intestines in order to fight the bacteria there.

Doctors may request blood tests or a change in the normal dosage for individuals who have kidney diseases. As a vancomycin IV may interfere with kidney function, those with kidney problems may not be able to take the medication. There may be some allergic reactions for some individuals who are injected with a vancomycin IV, so medical professionals will typically ask about pre-existing allergies before prescribing.